S24+ / S24 Ultra, or…?
Discussion
justin220 said:
I'm another fan of the Samsung Fold. I currently have the 3, and no major issues to report of over the last three years. I mainly use it for media when travelling and things like Netflix/Youtube are brilliant on it. I've not felt the need for a tablet since I bought it. Its fantastic having the inner screen open for multitasking.
I don't agree that the screen isn't much bigger than the slab phones, I guess it depends on how much bigger you need. Sure it will never be a full size tablet, but its noticeably bigger than my wife's iPhone when watching video.
The real disappointment with the Fold's are the cameras. The 3 is OK at best, its a real shame Samsung don't put the S24 ultra camera into them, and its significantly better. Again as a comparison to my wife's iPhone, hers is miles ahead.
Tempted to upgrade to the Fold 6 when its launched, but the camera is holding me back. I'd massively miss the screen however if I go for the S24+
Thanks, that's useful. I don't agree that the screen isn't much bigger than the slab phones, I guess it depends on how much bigger you need. Sure it will never be a full size tablet, but its noticeably bigger than my wife's iPhone when watching video.
The real disappointment with the Fold's are the cameras. The 3 is OK at best, its a real shame Samsung don't put the S24 ultra camera into them, and its significantly better. Again as a comparison to my wife's iPhone, hers is miles ahead.
Tempted to upgrade to the Fold 6 when its launched, but the camera is holding me back. I'd massively miss the screen however if I go for the S24+
I don't think the cameras will be a big issue for me - and I'd guess the 6 will be a bit better even if not S24 Ultra better
davek_964 said:
You might be right but surely until the 10th that's just speculation based on the 'leaks'?
Have a look at thishttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYqAQMDol50
OK - decision made.
S24 Ultra : Ruled out because it is just too big, and with the square corners - too ugly. I really don't have any desire to own it. I want S-pen, but the reality is I've used the S pen in my Note 9 about 3 times in 4 years.......
S24+ : The right kind of size / form factor - very similar to my Note 9. But that's a double edged sword - I don't want to spend ~£1k on a phone that looks pretty much like the phone I already have just so that my apps work. Seven years worth of updates was tempting though.
Fold 5 : Tempting, but I don't like the folded form factor. It does have S pen, but it's not integral which means I'd never have it with me anyway. It's a phone I think I could live with, but it's not a phone I want.
Fold 6 : Obviously not out yet, but it's hard to believe that it will be significantly different from all the leaks. Which means - although it is slightly wider, and slightly less tall - we're talking the order of mm, and it's still not a form factor I like. Plus - it seems it's followed the Ultra square corner design which is horrible - so when closed it's not only the wrong form factor, it's damn ugly too.
The simple fact is, while it is probably better than the Fold 5 - the differences are simply not big enough (and some, like the square corners are a backwards step) and since it's likely to be a £2k+ phone (I wouldn't buy one with less than 512GB) that's just not good enough. Samsung have the resource to have done better - particularly since this is the type of phone they've made for years now - and it's not a big enough step from the Fold 5.
So I've ordered a OnePlus Open. Pretty much every review rates it above the Fold 5, and it is the form factor I want. The fold is much less visible when in tablet mode than the Samsung - it was obvious in many videos, and mentioned by the reviewers too (although the fold 6 might be better I guess).
Lack of wireless charging will be a bit irritating - but I only really use that to charge the phone overnight - and a phone that will charge from empty to 100% in 40 minutes means that overnight charging seems a bit unnecessary now anyway.
I will lose some Samsung apps - I do use Samsung Notes for a few things, so will need to move them to Keep notes (which I also use). And I guess it will take some time to get used to the non-Samsung way of doing things (although I use Nova Launcher anyway).
I have some reservations. I know from having broken my screen before that official Samsung repairs can be done on my driveway from a van - I think Oneplus will be a little more painful. This is a bit of a concern with a phone that has a folding screen - which is presumably the weak point - and of course one day it may need a new battery.
But the reality is that for me, the current Samsung's just don't give me what I want. I am wary about moving away from them - but time will tell whether it's the right decision.
It's currently estimated to arrive on Friday.
S24 Ultra : Ruled out because it is just too big, and with the square corners - too ugly. I really don't have any desire to own it. I want S-pen, but the reality is I've used the S pen in my Note 9 about 3 times in 4 years.......
S24+ : The right kind of size / form factor - very similar to my Note 9. But that's a double edged sword - I don't want to spend ~£1k on a phone that looks pretty much like the phone I already have just so that my apps work. Seven years worth of updates was tempting though.
Fold 5 : Tempting, but I don't like the folded form factor. It does have S pen, but it's not integral which means I'd never have it with me anyway. It's a phone I think I could live with, but it's not a phone I want.
Fold 6 : Obviously not out yet, but it's hard to believe that it will be significantly different from all the leaks. Which means - although it is slightly wider, and slightly less tall - we're talking the order of mm, and it's still not a form factor I like. Plus - it seems it's followed the Ultra square corner design which is horrible - so when closed it's not only the wrong form factor, it's damn ugly too.
The simple fact is, while it is probably better than the Fold 5 - the differences are simply not big enough (and some, like the square corners are a backwards step) and since it's likely to be a £2k+ phone (I wouldn't buy one with less than 512GB) that's just not good enough. Samsung have the resource to have done better - particularly since this is the type of phone they've made for years now - and it's not a big enough step from the Fold 5.
So I've ordered a OnePlus Open. Pretty much every review rates it above the Fold 5, and it is the form factor I want. The fold is much less visible when in tablet mode than the Samsung - it was obvious in many videos, and mentioned by the reviewers too (although the fold 6 might be better I guess).
Lack of wireless charging will be a bit irritating - but I only really use that to charge the phone overnight - and a phone that will charge from empty to 100% in 40 minutes means that overnight charging seems a bit unnecessary now anyway.
I will lose some Samsung apps - I do use Samsung Notes for a few things, so will need to move them to Keep notes (which I also use). And I guess it will take some time to get used to the non-Samsung way of doing things (although I use Nova Launcher anyway).
I have some reservations. I know from having broken my screen before that official Samsung repairs can be done on my driveway from a van - I think Oneplus will be a little more painful. This is a bit of a concern with a phone that has a folding screen - which is presumably the weak point - and of course one day it may need a new battery.
But the reality is that for me, the current Samsung's just don't give me what I want. I am wary about moving away from them - but time will tell whether it's the right decision.
It's currently estimated to arrive on Friday.
davek_964 said:
OK - decision made.
S24 Ultra : Ruled out because it is just too big, and with the square corners - too ugly. I really don't have any desire to own it. I want S-pen, but the reality is I've used the S pen in my Note 9 about 3 times in 4 years.......
S24+ : The right kind of size / form factor - very similar to my Note 9. But that's a double edged sword - I don't want to spend ~£1k on a phone that looks pretty much like the phone I already have just so that my apps work. Seven years worth of updates was tempting though.
Fold 5 : Tempting, but I don't like the folded form factor. It does have S pen, but it's not integral which means I'd never have it with me anyway. It's a phone I think I could live with, but it's not a phone I want.
Fold 6 : Obviously not out yet, but it's hard to believe that it will be significantly different from all the leaks. Which means - although it is slightly wider, and slightly less tall - we're talking the order of mm, and it's still not a form factor I like. Plus - it seems it's followed the Ultra square corner design which is horrible - so when closed it's not only the wrong form factor, it's damn ugly too.
The simple fact is, while it is probably better than the Fold 5 - the differences are simply not big enough (and some, like the square corners are a backwards step) and since it's likely to be a £2k+ phone (I wouldn't buy one with less than 512GB) that's just not good enough. Samsung have the resource to have done better - particularly since this is the type of phone they've made for years now - and it's not a big enough step from the Fold 5.
So I've ordered a OnePlus Open. Pretty much every review rates it above the Fold 5, and it is the form factor I want. The fold is much less visible when in tablet mode than the Samsung - it was obvious in many videos, and mentioned by the reviewers too (although the fold 6 might be better I guess).
Lack of wireless charging will be a bit irritating - but I only really use that to charge the phone overnight - and a phone that will charge from empty to 100% in 40 minutes means that overnight charging seems a bit unnecessary now anyway.
I will lose some Samsung apps - I do use Samsung Notes for a few things, so will need to move them to Keep notes (which I also use). And I guess it will take some time to get used to the non-Samsung way of doing things (although I use Nova Launcher anyway).
I have some reservations. I know from having broken my screen before that official Samsung repairs can be done on my driveway from a van - I think Oneplus will be a little more painful. This is a bit of a concern with a phone that has a folding screen - which is presumably the weak point - and of course one day it may need a new battery.
But the reality is that for me, the current Samsung's just don't give me what I want. I am wary about moving away from them - but time will tell whether it's the right decision.
It's currently estimated to arrive on Friday.
I think you need to look at the actual prices. £1k for an S24+ is wildly out of the real world price. You can get one for nearer £500.S24 Ultra : Ruled out because it is just too big, and with the square corners - too ugly. I really don't have any desire to own it. I want S-pen, but the reality is I've used the S pen in my Note 9 about 3 times in 4 years.......
S24+ : The right kind of size / form factor - very similar to my Note 9. But that's a double edged sword - I don't want to spend ~£1k on a phone that looks pretty much like the phone I already have just so that my apps work. Seven years worth of updates was tempting though.
Fold 5 : Tempting, but I don't like the folded form factor. It does have S pen, but it's not integral which means I'd never have it with me anyway. It's a phone I think I could live with, but it's not a phone I want.
Fold 6 : Obviously not out yet, but it's hard to believe that it will be significantly different from all the leaks. Which means - although it is slightly wider, and slightly less tall - we're talking the order of mm, and it's still not a form factor I like. Plus - it seems it's followed the Ultra square corner design which is horrible - so when closed it's not only the wrong form factor, it's damn ugly too.
The simple fact is, while it is probably better than the Fold 5 - the differences are simply not big enough (and some, like the square corners are a backwards step) and since it's likely to be a £2k+ phone (I wouldn't buy one with less than 512GB) that's just not good enough. Samsung have the resource to have done better - particularly since this is the type of phone they've made for years now - and it's not a big enough step from the Fold 5.
So I've ordered a OnePlus Open. Pretty much every review rates it above the Fold 5, and it is the form factor I want. The fold is much less visible when in tablet mode than the Samsung - it was obvious in many videos, and mentioned by the reviewers too (although the fold 6 might be better I guess).
Lack of wireless charging will be a bit irritating - but I only really use that to charge the phone overnight - and a phone that will charge from empty to 100% in 40 minutes means that overnight charging seems a bit unnecessary now anyway.
I will lose some Samsung apps - I do use Samsung Notes for a few things, so will need to move them to Keep notes (which I also use). And I guess it will take some time to get used to the non-Samsung way of doing things (although I use Nova Launcher anyway).
I have some reservations. I know from having broken my screen before that official Samsung repairs can be done on my driveway from a van - I think Oneplus will be a little more painful. This is a bit of a concern with a phone that has a folding screen - which is presumably the weak point - and of course one day it may need a new battery.
But the reality is that for me, the current Samsung's just don't give me what I want. I am wary about moving away from them - but time will tell whether it's the right decision.
It's currently estimated to arrive on Friday.
SP_ said:
I think you need to look at the actual prices. £1k for an S24+ is wildly out of the real world price. You can get one for nearer £500.
I did look at real prices. For a 512GB S24+ - from sites I use - it is about £1k.I am aware that there are places online that are cheaper, but I tend to order from places I trust and have used before. And that would mean ~£1k.
I had the same dilemma as you last year, I had the S20+, which is still the nicest phone I've owned by miles and miles, but smashed the screen to bits and needed to replace. The problem was that the options were all to either pay lots of money for something that wasn't really any better, or pay a little bit more and get the Ultra which is too square, too thick and too heavy.
They need to find a way to put the Ultra cameras into the + models, that was ultimately what caused me to buy the Ultra. Which I'm still quite disappointed with because it just has no wow factor to it compared with the S20+ I had. That one it felt like you were holding an amazing bit of technology, the way the Ultra Tablets do.
The Ultra phones are just big and heavy, but take really really nice pictures, but are, disappointingly, probably the best option once you start having to spend money.
They need to find a way to put the Ultra cameras into the + models, that was ultimately what caused me to buy the Ultra. Which I'm still quite disappointed with because it just has no wow factor to it compared with the S20+ I had. That one it felt like you were holding an amazing bit of technology, the way the Ultra Tablets do.
The Ultra phones are just big and heavy, but take really really nice pictures, but are, disappointingly, probably the best option once you start having to spend money.
davek_964 said:
SP_ said:
I think you need to look at the actual prices. £1k for an S24+ is wildly out of the real world price. You can get one for nearer £500.
I did look at real prices. For a 512GB S24+ - from sites I use - it is about £1k.I am aware that there are places online that are cheaper, but I tend to order from places I trust and have used before. And that would mean ~£1k.
https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/samsung-galaxy-s2...
SP_ said:
davek_964 said:
SP_ said:
I think you need to look at the actual prices. £1k for an S24+ is wildly out of the real world price. You can get one for nearer £500.
I did look at real prices. For a 512GB S24+ - from sites I use - it is about £1k.I am aware that there are places online that are cheaper, but I tend to order from places I trust and have used before. And that would mean ~£1k.
https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/samsung-galaxy-s2...
It's a tad academic though. I said that I didn't want to spend about £1k for a phone that didn't really offer anything (other than up to date Android) over my existing phone, and that is equally true for a £700 phone.
davek_964 said:
SP_ said:
davek_964 said:
SP_ said:
I think you need to look at the actual prices. £1k for an S24+ is wildly out of the real world price. You can get one for nearer £500.
I did look at real prices. For a 512GB S24+ - from sites I use - it is about £1k.I am aware that there are places online that are cheaper, but I tend to order from places I trust and have used before. And that would mean ~£1k.
https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/samsung-galaxy-s2...
It's a tad academic though. I said that I didn't want to spend about £1k for a phone that didn't really offer anything (other than up to date Android) over my existing phone, and that is equally true for a £700 phone.
Well - it was estimated to be delivered on Friday 5th. Was dispatched yesterday and the estimated delivery date moved to Thurs 4th - but it's just arrived at my local post office and is now estimated to be delivered today 
In time, it might turn out to be the worst decision I've ever made - I have a few reservations - but I feel like a kid at Christmas. So at least in the short term, this was a good idea and I'm really looking forward to it turning up!
In time, it might turn out to be the worst decision I've ever made - I have a few reservations - but I feel like a kid at Christmas. So at least in the short term, this was a good idea and I'm really looking forward to it turning up!
davek_964 said:
Well - it was estimated to be delivered on Friday 5th. Was dispatched yesterday and the estimated delivery date moved to Thurs 4th - but it's just arrived at my local post office and is now estimated to be delivered today
In time, it might turn out to be the worst decision I've ever made - I have a few reservations - but I feel like a kid at Christmas. So at least in the short term, this was a good idea and I'm really looking forward to it turning up!
You can always return it In time, it might turn out to be the worst decision I've ever made - I have a few reservations - but I feel like a kid at Christmas. So at least in the short term, this was a good idea and I'm really looking forward to it turning up!
It arrived at lunchtime, so I guess I know what I'll spend my evening doing........
First impressions are : It's bloody lovely! The inner screen is definitely a step up from the fold 5 I saw - you can feel the dip in the hinge, but you can't see it unless you angle it towards the light.
Nova Launcher seems to work well so my screens should look pretty familiar by tomorrow. Added Outlook and my email accounts and that seems to have sync'd fine.
Got a lot more apps to add, but so far I'm very impressed.
First impressions are : It's bloody lovely! The inner screen is definitely a step up from the fold 5 I saw - you can feel the dip in the hinge, but you can't see it unless you angle it towards the light.
Nova Launcher seems to work well so my screens should look pretty familiar by tomorrow. Added Outlook and my email accounts and that seems to have sync'd fine.
Got a lot more apps to add, but so far I'm very impressed.
Serial Android tart reporting for duty:
I had a fling with a OnePlus 8 Pro a few years ago having had much of the Samsung back catalogue up to that point
On paper it was great, and in reality the cameras were similarly fantastic
I had come across the brand from the work nerd who had been on board for years
My experience was that OK - camera superb, value decent but not as good as previous however my biggest beef was the Bluetooth performance. In contrast to Samsung phones before and after the Oneplus using contactless and range with wireless speakers was frustrating at best leading me to think that the OPlus bluetooth clever bits have been a victim of penny pinching
Honestly I used to get exasperated at Waitrose self service tills (actually Lidl but this is PH) and there is a huge gulf in performance playing tunez via BT speakers at work and at home with my other phones
When they were cheap it was hard to resist. Not sure if Id buy another
Keen to hear how you get on OP
Cheers
numtumfutunch said:
...my biggest beef was the Bluetooth performance. In contrast to Samsung phones before and after the Oneplus using contactless and range with wireless speakers was frustrating at best leading me to think that the OPlus bluetooth clever bits have been a victim of penny pinching
Honestly I used to get exasperated at Waitrose self service tills (actually Lidl but this is PH) and there is a huge gulf in performance playing tunez via BT speakers at work and at home with my other phones
Interesting that you mention Bluetooth. I noticed something odd last night.Honestly I used to get exasperated at Waitrose self service tills (actually Lidl but this is PH) and there is a huge gulf in performance playing tunez via BT speakers at work and at home with my other phones
By default, BT was off. I wanted to transfer a file from my old phone to my new phone so enabled BT - the file transferred fine.
A few hours later, I wanted to do the same thing again but this time it failed - and when I went to BT on my old phone the OnePlus wasn't there. I had to disable / enable BT on the OnePlus for it to be found again, and that happened a number of times.
However - I have connected to my headphones this morning with no issue and they seem to be working fine.
I usually use the phone to pay for stuff - I might start carrying my bank cards with me for a few days.........
After spending last night setting the new phone up (although I've not finished) - I'm still currently pleased with it.
I didn't use the main screen very much - but that was mostly because I wanted to be setting the outer screen up to look the way I wanted (once I'd installed the apps). However - I did use it some, and thought it was excellent. I did find a bug though I think - sometimes when I closed the phone, the outer screen just shows my wallpaper and nothing else. I don't have any screens with nothing on (and I'm using Nova Launcher which has a task bar anyway). Pressing home solves it so it's not a big deal but it's a bit odd.
Other than that, it went very well. Even the g/f is impressed with it - which is telling, because when we viewed the Fold 5 she thought it was rubbish.
I did try a brief watch of Netflix / Prime and........ it was a bit poor. Massive bars top and bottom, and it really is the case that the display of the film is really not much bigger than my Note 9. I have a cheap tablet I use for short haul flying etc and I'm not sure it will stop me using that. But I think it probably will stop me using my main tablet (I don't watch videos on tablets / phones at home).
Surprisingly - the Prime experience was better than Netflix. Although the film isn't any bigger, it uses the extra space below to show the X-Ray stuff. I thought that was pretty neat.
Moving a few things over was a bit painful. I use Business Calendar (mostly because I like the widget) - and it turns out that it has not been sync'ing with Exchange for some time, presumably because my Android was out of date. Hence - although the new phone sync'd - it was full of old events that I'd deleted and none of the new events I'd added in the last 6 months......... Manual entry took a while...........
I miss the Reminder thing that the Samsung had. But the Google Calendar "task" achieves the same thing, and since Business Calendar isn't syncing with Google Calendar it doesn't clog up the Calendar view (I have several repeating reminders).
For some reason, the screen is an absolute dust magnet. Much much worse than my Note 9.
Fingerprint sensor seems a bit hit and miss - although it's difficult to tell because I also enabled face recognition. I have that on my (cheap) Samsung tablet and it's garbage. On the OnePlus it is brilliant and unlocks the phone most of the time without me even raising the phone (in fact, it's so good I'm wondering how secure it is!).
The fingerprint sensor is also a bit rubbish being on the power button - it's where my finger ends up when putting the phone down / picking it up and it will often fail enough times that it disables fingerprint for 30s and prompt for pin code.
Pin code is only 6 digits which is disappointing after Samsung 8 digit. Perhaps I'll change to password.
The SIM is in it, so it's now my main phone. Still plenty of setting up to do, but it will start being "normal use" from today so we'll see how it goes.
ETA : The one thing that has annoyed me a bit is the "selfie" camera lens. The Note 9 had a thin bar above the display with that in it - it's surprisingly irritating having a black circle at the top of the display on the OnePlus. I'm sure I'll get use to it but it's a bit horrible.
Edited by davek_964 on Thursday 4th July 09:02
Having used it for a few days as my normal phone, this is what I think. First the negatives : It's a little buggy.
- Occasionally when switching screens, the screen just shows wallpaper
- The home button sometimes doesn't work in an app. This happens surprisingly often and a Google search suggests it's been a problem for Oneplus for years! Recent apps button works, so that then home button seems to be the solution
- Occasionally when opening the screen, the icons in the task dock (I use Nova Launcher) are bigger and very close together. It's rare and might even be an issue with Nova.
Surprisingly, none of these issues bother me. A little irritating but you can immediately work around it so it doesn't seem like a big deal. Samsung software is clearly more polished.
I've been using Samsung for years, and have Samsung 'stuff' - tablets and watch. I fully expected to find it difficult to move to something else and would miss the Samsung bits.
I absolutely don't. It works fine with the watch, and things like settings etc seem more logical in the OnePlus - presumably because it's more Google.
Split screen in tablet mode is brilliant especially when setting up a new phone. Password manager on the left, app you're opening for the first time on the right.
Video playback is actually fine. Although the phone is almost square when open, it's not quite and putting it in landscape mode makes a noticeable difference in video screen size. I have a cheap tablet I use for travel - I don't think that will get used again.
I assumed I would use it mostly in phone mode but surprisingly, the reverse is true. I have a few phone stands and it sits on them better when open. I have a desk job so most of the day Monday to Friday - and overnight - it's on a phone stand and open.
Also, opening the phone wakes it up and face recognition is brilliant even when holding the phone normally. Which means that even if the phone is closed, it's just as easy to open it - when it will instantly unlock - as it is to unlock it with the fingerprint sensor. The only time I really use the front screen is if I'm standing up.
I haven't missed the wireless charging because the fast charging makes up for it. I was using it a lot in the first few days - one evening it was down to 18% - I charged for 12 mins and it hit 50%.
The next day it was down to 15% and a 35 min charge had it back to 100%.
Battery life is good. I'm using it mostly normally now although still probably a bit more than I usually would (and 90% of the time in tablet mode) - after charging to full about 24 hours ago, I still have 30% left.
It's only been a short period of time, but I would already be very very reluctant to go back to non folding phone. This thing is just brilliant.
- Occasionally when switching screens, the screen just shows wallpaper
- The home button sometimes doesn't work in an app. This happens surprisingly often and a Google search suggests it's been a problem for Oneplus for years! Recent apps button works, so that then home button seems to be the solution
- Occasionally when opening the screen, the icons in the task dock (I use Nova Launcher) are bigger and very close together. It's rare and might even be an issue with Nova.
Surprisingly, none of these issues bother me. A little irritating but you can immediately work around it so it doesn't seem like a big deal. Samsung software is clearly more polished.
I've been using Samsung for years, and have Samsung 'stuff' - tablets and watch. I fully expected to find it difficult to move to something else and would miss the Samsung bits.
I absolutely don't. It works fine with the watch, and things like settings etc seem more logical in the OnePlus - presumably because it's more Google.
Split screen in tablet mode is brilliant especially when setting up a new phone. Password manager on the left, app you're opening for the first time on the right.
Video playback is actually fine. Although the phone is almost square when open, it's not quite and putting it in landscape mode makes a noticeable difference in video screen size. I have a cheap tablet I use for travel - I don't think that will get used again.
I assumed I would use it mostly in phone mode but surprisingly, the reverse is true. I have a few phone stands and it sits on them better when open. I have a desk job so most of the day Monday to Friday - and overnight - it's on a phone stand and open.
Also, opening the phone wakes it up and face recognition is brilliant even when holding the phone normally. Which means that even if the phone is closed, it's just as easy to open it - when it will instantly unlock - as it is to unlock it with the fingerprint sensor. The only time I really use the front screen is if I'm standing up.
I haven't missed the wireless charging because the fast charging makes up for it. I was using it a lot in the first few days - one evening it was down to 18% - I charged for 12 mins and it hit 50%.
The next day it was down to 15% and a 35 min charge had it back to 100%.
Battery life is good. I'm using it mostly normally now although still probably a bit more than I usually would (and 90% of the time in tablet mode) - after charging to full about 24 hours ago, I still have 30% left.
It's only been a short period of time, but I would already be very very reluctant to go back to non folding phone. This thing is just brilliant.
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